University of Denver
FACULTY FORUM
VOL. XV NO. 5
FEBRUARY 2002
Peer Institutions: Who Do We Think We Are . . .
. . . and Who Would We Aspire to Become?
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS
At different times and in various circumstances, every
college and university, including the University of Denver,
compares itself to selected peer institutions. Different
comparison schools are chosen according to different
criteria depending upon what type of analysis is being
done. In some cases, efforts are made to select schools
that we are most like. In other cases, institutions are
selected on the basis of who we would aspire to become
more like.
One recommendation by the NCA Accreditation team was
for the University to reconsider its working lists of peer
institutions with the goal of reconsidering the criteria for
selecting comparison schools and perhaps consolidating
lists. It seems reasonable that different sets of schools be
used for undergraduate and graduate program
comparisons. But, it also seems reasonable that some
input about peer programs and institutions come from the
academic side of the house. In January, we had a meeting
with Provost Coombe to discuss how the Faculty Senate
might contribute to this analysis process. Our idea was to
help inform the faculty of those schools that have been and
are being used for comparisons, and to offer input in the
final analysis.
This issue of the Faculty Forum provides to you a few of the
working lists of peer institutions. Are we being realistic in
our comparisons? Have we selected institutions that are
indeed most like us? Are there other schools that you
would recommend for comparison? On the undergraduate
side, what programs offer an academic and campus
experience that is similar to the experience at the University
of Denver? For faculty in our professional programs, do
the comparison schools represent those programs that
we are most like? Who do we aspire to become more
like? Which institutions have a legacy of success and
strength of reputation that could help us learn what it
takes to become and sustain a great university?
UNDERGRADUATE COMPARISONS
Sheila Wright, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies,
Wellness, and Campus Life provided the information in
tables 1 & 2. The schools are used for broad
undergraduate program evaluation and planning. The
first table lists peer institutions based upon
undergraduate admit rates, persistence from first to
second year (what has been called retention rate), and
numeric profiles for academic reputation published by
US News and World Report. The academic ranking
values are based on a number of profile parameters and
range from 1 to 5 (with 5 being highest).
Our programs, departments and the Vice Provost’s
office are to be commended for their efforts to bolster
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ADDRESS:
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our sense of community and concern following the Sept
th
11 tragedy and during this past interterm. In Winter
Quarter ’02, student return rate was over 97%
-- even better that what we have seen in past years!
Undergraduate Studies is working to develop a plan to
improve undergraduate persistence in coming years.
Table 1: Comparison Schools for Undergraduate
Programming
University
Admit
Rate
Persistence
Rensselaer Polytech
73 %
Tulane University
73 %
Case Western Univ.
71 %
Yeshiva University
79 %
Univ. of San Fran.
80 %
American Univ.
72 %
Texas Christian Univ.
76 %
Loyola-Chicago
80 %
Univ. of Denver
78 %
Univ. of Tulsa
75 %
Univ. of Dayton
79 %
Source: Office of Undergraduate Studies
91 %
85 %
91 %
84 %
84 %
86 %
82 %
80 %
84 %
78 %
79 %
US News
Acad. Rep.
3.6
3.5
3.5
3.0
2.9
2.9
2.8
2.8
2.6
2.5
2.4
While it is informative to consider who we may be most
like, it is also important to consider an aspiration group
of schools that are more distinctive by accomplishment
and reputation. Table 2 lists those schools selected by
Undergraduate Studies as an aspiration group for
undergraduate programming. These schools have lower
admit rates (more selective admissions), higher
persistence rates, and a stronger academic reputation.
Table 2: Aspiration Group for Undergraduate Studies
University
Admit
Rate
Persistence
Duke University
26 %
Dartmouth Univ.
21 %
Univ. of Richmond
42 %
Vanderbilt Univ.
55 %
Emory University
45 %
Santa Clara Univ.
61 %
Univ. of Rochester
50 %
Wake Forest Univ.
49 %
Pepperdine Univ.
36 %
Univ. of Denver
78 %
Source: Office of Undergraduate Studies
97 %
96 %
92 %
92 %
92 %
92 %
94 %
93 %
87 %
84 %
US News
Acad. Rep.
4.6
4.4
4.3
4.1
4.0
4.0
3.4
3.4
3.1
2.6
Important budgetary and planning decisions at University
of Denver are also driven by comparisons to peer
institutions. In each year’s planning cycle, different
possible rates of tuition increase are modeled. One goal
of this tuition increase analysis is to keep DU in the
middle range of a selected competitive market group at the
same time that budget recommendations are projected to
satisfy the real costs of running the university (actually
paying the bills). Table 3 below shows the peer
institutions that are used for this annual tuition analysis –
colleges and universities both in Colorado and nationally
with which the University chooses to maintain a
comparable market position. Realize that these are the
published total costs for tuition, fees, room and board, not
discounted rates (less scholarship and other financial aid).
Table 3: Undergraduate Comparison Schools for Tuition,
Fee, Room and Board Rates
University
Northwestern Univ.
Vanderbilt University
Washington Univ.
Emory University
Colorado College
Univ. of Southern CA
Boston University
Lewis & Clark College
Regis University
Southern Methodist
Univ. of Puget Sound
Univ. of Denver
Source: Office of the Provost
Total Costs
2001-2002
US News
Acad. Rep.
$ 33,591
$ 33,826
$ 35,141
$ 33,792
$ 30,736
$ 33,610
$ 34,978
$ 29,260
$ 26,040
$ 27,851
$ 28,285
$ 28,783
4.4
4.1
4.1
4.0
3.9
3.8
3.4
3.2
3. 1
3.1
3.0
2.6
Comparison sets in the tables above are not necessarily the
schools with which DU competes for admissions. To our
knowledge, we do not have data available to evaluate who
we compete with for graduate or professional programs.
But we do have admissions data available to evaluate
undergraduate admissions. Table 4 below lists
comparison schools with the most cross admits for our
undergraduates. These are the other institutions to which
undergraduate admits are also admitted. Not surprisingly,
undergraduates who apply to DU are also interested in
other Colorado institutions as well as public and private
institutions from coast to coast.
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CLOSING COMMENTS
Table 4: Comparison Schools for Most Undergraduate
Cross Admits
University
Colorado College
University of Arizona
University of Colorado
Boston University
University of Oregon
Regis University
Colorado State Univ.
Univ. of Puget Sound
University of Vermont
University of Denver
Univ. of Northern Colo.
Source: Office of Admissions
Location
CO Springs, CO
Tucson, AZ
Boulder, CO
Boston, MA
Eugene, OR
Denver, CO
Fort Collins, CO
Tacoma, WA
Burlington, VT
Denver, CO
Greeley, CO
US News
Acad. Rep.
3.9
3.7
3.7
3.4
3.4
3.1
3.0
3.0
3.0
2.6
2.3
We understand that the Provost has instructed Deans to
ask their groups to recommend comparison programs
and schools. The Faculty Senate supports this effort,
and we ask all faculty members to consider the
comparison institutions that might best support our
academic planning. As you think of your academic unit,
what comparison schools best describe your peer group?
What comparison schools best describe your aspiration?
This input is essential in supporting the Faculty Senate’s
efforts to collaborate with Provost Coombe and the
higher administration to examine our current comparison
process and construct the most useful set of comparisons
to guide our academic and fiscal planning.™
-- Susan E. Sadler, President
GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM
COMPARISONS
Most peer institution comparisons at DU have focused on
comparing undergraduate program information. Even the
tuition comparison group is selected with any eye to
examining undergraduate tuition trends. Table 5 (see back
page) presents another list of comparison schools used for
faculty salary analysis in the recent North Central
Accreditation report, along with profile data that the
Faculty Senate office was able to pull from each
institution’s web page. While the NCA process focuses on
undergraduate accreditation, these schools are all
Universities delivering an undergraduate program and a
constellation of graduate and professional programs.
As you can see, most of these institutions have Business
and Law schools, whereas other graduate programs, such
as Professional Psychology, Social Work, and International
Studies may find that direct comparisons are few. It may
be useful for faculty in the professional schools to consider
what national institutions might provide the most useful
comparisons, both in terms of current comparability and in
terms of our aspirations.
-- Cathryn Potter, Chair
Financial Planning Committee
References: U.S. News & World Report academic
reputation rankings, available online at:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/cosearch.htm
FACULTY SENATE OFFICE
Margery Reed Hall, Room 122
Phone: (303) 871-4428
Fax: (303) 871-4778
URL: www.du.edu/facsen
Carol Nappholz, Editor
Faustine Miller, Secretary
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